Category Archives: The Conjuring Arts Research Center

Lawrence Sullivan is a professional magician based in Hong Kong. He performs worldwide.

Slowly building his repertoire through classic texts on magic such as Expert Card Technique and CardCollege, he learned the basics of misdirection and deception. First of all, he is focused on card and close-up magic. That is why he decided to create his own decks of playing cards – Legends Playing Cards. So, you should understand that these playing cards were produced for magicians.

The 1st edition of this deck is available in three different colours: Blue, Red and Metallic Green (no metallic ink). The only differences between three decks are different colours of backs and tuck cases.

The deck: 52 playing cards + 2 Jokers (one have a reveal). Poker size. Playing cards were printed on casino cardboard and have some kind of “embossed finish”. Decks have custom Jokers and the Ace of Spades. Court cards are Bicycle standard court cards with new faces and slightly changed colours. Number cards are slightly changed Bicycle standard number cards. Tuck cases are glossy.

The Conjuring Arts Research Center is a not-for-profit organization located in Manhattan and dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of magic and its allied arts. It seeks to be an important cultural centre. Appealing to practitioners and performers of the conjuring arts, academic historians, collectors, writers and general enthusiasts, Conjuring Arts fills the gap between private collections of magic related history and information, and the public. In terms of a vault of magic literature it is like some kind of The Royal Library of Alexandria for appropriate target audience. But these guys are not only “librarians”. They are also producers of playing cards. Their decks of playing cards are mainly dedicated to magic needs and quite often have some historical roots.

These Erdnase 216 decks are the same design and similar feel as a rare Bee deck printed by the New York Consolidated Card Company in 1902. The Conjuring Arts Research Center in collaboration with USPCC created special Erdnase Finish for these playing cards to make them feel like the originals.

The deck: 52 playing cards + 2 identical Jokers. Poker size. Playing cards were printed on a special stock and have special Erdnase Finish (smooth). The only differences between these two decks are different colours of backs and tuck cases. There were used vintage court cards, indices and pips.